Father Ivan
DESTINIES: Ivan Filipovic tomorrow in Djakovo Cathedral is celebrating his first Mass
Former heroin addict became a priest
By Vesna Kralj, September 18, 2004
Translation for this webpage by Katje Dzepina
At the beginning of high school in the mid-eighties, Djakovo, born Ivan Filipovic, started using marihuana. He didn't ever think that path will take him straight to hell, from where he would rise to the altar to serve God and people.
To hell and back
At the age of 37, Ivan Filipovic is the first ex-heroin addict who became a priest in Croatia, and among the first ones in the world. As a member of Cenacolo Community, and after successfully finishing Theology studies, he gave the final vows and became a priest on July 17th, 2004 in the Cenacolo Community Casa Madre (Motherhouse) in Saluzzo, Italy. He'll celebrate his first Mass tomorrow in Djakovo Cathedral. For that he is getting prepared calmly, inspired by faith in God's providence, that has also helped him to get away from the hell of drugs. For around ten years he was a prisoner of drugs. Today he is a completely different person: warm, intimate, honest, his word is freeing and giving hope. About his life Ivan talks without fear, honestly, from the bottom of his heart.
"I started using marihuana when I was only fifteen years old. It started with rebellious thinking, Bob Marley and Jim Morrison music, having a joint sometimes, and what followed was heroin, the needle. After finishing high school and failing in my attempt to study in Varazdin, I went to Germany with no aim. I started to live in Frankfurt, worked on construction, but I wanted more, I wanted to be somebody, to have a lot of money. I started to sell heroin.
"Money started to fill my pockets, I lived a classy life, I had everything, cars, girls, good times -- like in an American dream. But all of it was empty, big emptiness. Heroin took hold of my being, and pushed me into an abyss.
"I did a lot of things to get to money, I stole, lied, cheated. That last year I spent in Germany, I was literally living on the streets, sleeping in the train stations, running away from police. As starved as I was, I would run into a store, grab bread and salami, and I was running away and eating at the same time. It is saying more than enough about how I looked if I tell you that no cashier ever stopped me. I was only 25 years old, but I was so tired, so tired that I ran away to Croatia in 1994, after being released from the prison," Ivan says.
Getting off heroin cold turkey
When he came to Zagreb, Ivan decided to get off the heroin cold turkey.
"The crises were horrible, I didnt sleep for month and a half," Ivan remembers.
"I knew that my parents, my family was living a horrible drama too, that they are suffering together with me, and that was very painful to me. My brothers helped me to enter Community, first in Ugljane house next to Sinj, and then to Medjugorje, where I met Sister Elvira. I arrived to Saluzzo in December 1994, and after that I spend five and a half years in a Cenacolo Community house near Tuscany (Livorno house). There I got to know myself profoundly, and got to meet living Christ. And I suffered a lot, as my brothers, cousins, and friends were in the war. I felt guilty for all what I have done to my family," says former Cenacolo member who is going back to Cenacolo as a priest.
Friends Attending the Mass
Friends from Community Cenacolo will also attend Ivans first Holy Mass.
The choir from Cenacolo will be singing along with Djakovo Cathedral
choir. As a present to Ivan, tonight at 8 PM in Croatian House members
of Cenacolo house in Vrbovec will perform the play The Return of
Prodigal Son.
Ivan's Early Days
Ivan Filipovic was born on November 29,1968 in Tomislavgrad. His family was working in Germany, and they moved to Djakovo when Ivan was 2 years old. Ivan's heroin addiction was extremely painful for all the family.
After Ivan was in a Community for three years, his mother became sick.
My family was calling me to return home, it was a painful challenge. For many nights I was suffering, praying. I knew what my mother is going through, but at the same time I knew that my exiting the Community would put a very heavy burden on my family. I had a wish to study psychology; instead I started theology. In the beginning I felt scared of becoming a priest; but after two years of studies my calling to become a priest became crystal clear. The Lord's call was stronger and prevailed," says Ivan.
In the US, phone (904) 471-8453 for more information about Consecrated Life.